Radiant screen and louver construction



United States Patent 3,219,104 RADIANT SCREEN AND LOUVER CONSTRUCTION William N. Walker, Belmont, Calif., assiguor to Radiant Ceilings, Inc., Burlingame, Calif. Filed July 24, 1963, Ser. No. 297,322 13 Claims. (Cl. 165-86) This invention relates to an improved louvered screen for controlling radiant heat transfer into or from a room or other space located on one side of the screen.

A considerable amount of heat is normally transferred through the glass windows of buildings. Probably the most objectionable heat transfer conditions occur during the wintertime when large quantities of solar energy (because of low sun angle) enter the room through the window. If the window area is over 25%, such as in many modern buildings, the room temperature is quickly raised to an uncomfortable level. Normally, it is then necessary to expend large amounts of energy in cooling the room. Even with such cooling or air-conditioning, the problem of the attendant glare is still present. And, in addition, there may be relatively severe temperature gradients within the room with the greatest temperature being near the window. Also, in the wintertime, the problem can be the reverse in that heat is lost through the window.

One way to overcome these problems has been to use an adjustable shutter through which relatively cool (or warm) heat exchanging fluids may be circulated. One of these systems which I am familiar with is US. Patent No. 3,048,375 for Means for Controlling Radiant Heat Loss or Gain of which I am the inventor. In this device the hollow louvers are rotated so they can effectively block radiant heat or allow it to pass as preferred.

In this invention there is provided a heat screen in which either vertically or horizontally extending hollow louvers are rotatably mounted between two spaced apart fluid transfer manifolds. Each manifold has a plurality of spaced apart transverse apertures formed in it which communicate with a main fluid passageway and also provide a bearing surface for the (upper, lower, or side) pivot or journal connection of each louver.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved radiant heat screen of the above type in which the pivotal connection between the louver and manifolds is such that louvers may be installed or removed individually at any time after the manifolds have been installed in the room.

Another object is to provide a radiant heat screen in which manifolds, each having a plurality of transverse apertures, are adapted to receive a plurality of heat transfer louvers and in which journals on the ends of the louvers are tapered or otherwise formed to provide one portion having a greater diameter than the rest of the journal.

Advantages of this improved journal arrangement are that slight horizontal displacement or axial misalignment of the upper and lower manifold apertures will not seriously affect the rotation of the individual louvers. And as a result, this heat screen can be installed in buildings which do not, for some reason or other, have a perfectly planar or flat wall. In addition, precise measurements or close tolerances are not require for installation or manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved heat screen of the above type in which the tapered journal has a deformable seal mounted at the enlarged radius section and in which this seal is operable to prevent leakage of the heat transfer fluid even when the louver is misaligned with the transverse manifold apertures. In addition, a second seal in the form of a hollow "ice cylindrical washer made of a soft resilient low friction material such as vinyl is positioned to surround the upper and lower pivot connections to both trap any heat transfer fluid which leaks past the journal seal and to provide a low friction support bearing between the louvers and manifolds.

Another object is to provide an improved heat screen of the above type in which spacers prevent axial movement of the louver and in which at least part of one spacer can be removed, thereby permitting the louver to be moved sufliciently far to axially withdraw one of the journals from a transverse manifold aperture. The freed louver end can then be swung out of axial alignment with the manifold apertures and the second journal withdrawn from its associated aperture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved heat screen in which the longitudinal edges of the louvers have a groove or recess extending therealong. These grooves are operable to receive the edges of a thick heat emissive coating thereby providing a smooth and continuous louver surface.

Still another object is to provide a sealing end cap for the heat screen in which the ends of the louver are received within a cup-like lip thereby providing positive sealing action which is characterized by an increasingly tight seal as internal louver fluid pressures increase.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent when reading the following detailed description of one embodiment of this invention and referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of the over-all relationship of the heat transfer screen elements;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partial sectioned front elevational view of a single heat transfer louver showing the pivotal connection with the transverse apertures of the upper and lower manifolds, portions of the figure being shown in phantom lines for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the hollow heat transfer louver of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hollow heat transfer louver taken along the lines 4--4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the invention taken along the plane 5--5 of FIGURE 2 showing two louvers and associated control linkage.

Generally, for environment control, the radiant heat screen of FIGURE 1 would be positioned so that a glass window is on one side and the room interior on the other. Normally this would be accomplished by mounting or securing the manifolds 12 and 13 to the opposite edges of a window casement, room wall, or floor and ceiling. Conventional fasteners such as brackets, screws, bolts or clamps could be used for this purpose. About the only limitations are that both manifolds be substantially parallel confronting relation to one another and in vertical registry. These relative positions are not, however, critical as will be explained later. 14 are then rotatably mounted in substantially parallel and vertical alignment between these two manifolds 12 and 13. Thus, it is possible to pivot the louvers anywhere from a fully closed position where the broad flat faces are parallel to the window to a fully open position where a narrow louver edge is directed toward the room to control the environment within the room. In order to rotate all of the louvers simultaneously, any conventional prime mover or relay 15 and associated mechanical linkage 57 is operably connected to the louvers. Suitable thermostatic or manual switching means can be also connected to control the circuit. If desired, a heat exchanger, such as described in my US. Patent No. 3,048,375, to which reference has been made, can be connected in fluid circuit with the upper and lower manifolds so that a heat A plurality of heat transfer louvers exchanging fluid can be transferred through the hollow heat transfer louvers 14.

Now referring to the details of the improved heat transfer screen of this invention, FIGURE 2 shows a hollow louver 14 connected between the upper and lower manifolds 12 and 13, respectively. Generally, louver 14 is an elongate blade-like structure having a substantially diamond shaped cross-section. One way of making this type of louver would be to extrude heated aluminum through a die which forms the substantially diamond shaped central passageway 21 and the two outer grooves or recesses 22 at the longitudinal edge of the louver. The particular diamond shape for passageway 21 was selected for its large heat transfer surface which permits eflicient heat transfer between passageway 21 and the louver exterior. Grooves 22 are in turn formed to a depth which is substantially equal to the thickness of a heat emissive coating which can be applied to one face of the louver and within the grooves so that with the heat emissive coating in place, the exterior surface of the louver is smooth and continuous. This heat emissive coating can be a fabric or paint, color schemed to the room interior, in which the ends or edges extend into the recesses 22 where they are received and provide a smooth contour in the louver surface. As a result of this arrangement, one surface of louver 14 operates as an effective radiator while the other side operates as a reflector.

In order to seal the open ends of louver 14 and provide a pivot means or connect-ion with the manifolds, upper and lower end caps and 35 are connected to the louver. First, as a means for providing a tight seal, a gasket or liquid adhesive which is characterized by sealing properties over wide temperature ranges, is applied at the interface between end cap 25 and louver 14. One material of this type is a silicon rubber liquid trademarked Silastic RTV-731 and made by Dow Corning. A lip portion 29 projects downward from the horizontal body of cap 25 to form a diamond shaped cup which receives the louvers and operates to prevent the relatively thin and flexible louver walls 23 and 24 from expanding outwardly when the pressure of fluid within the passageway 21 increases. Acute angle corners of rim 29 are removed thereby providing a passageway which permits the sharp longitudinal edges of louver 14 to extend outward to at least the edge of the end cap. As a result, the edges of adjacent parallel louvers can be brought close to each other or overlapped to provide a substantially solid screen. Then a pair of flathead self-tapping screws 26 are inserted in the counter sunken holes 27 where they are thereafter screwed into the louver metal near the acute angle apexes.

As a means for pivotally connecting the louvers 14 in the transverse manifold passageway 45, a hollow boss 30 is formed to project upward from the end cap body in substantially coaxial alignment with louver 14. Included on the lower portion of boss 30 is a hexagonal shank portion 31 which is operable to receive a lever arm 50 as will be explained shortly. The upper portion of boss 30 is formed in a double taper journal 32 in which the central portion has the greatest diameter. By forming an O-ring groove 33 at this largest diameter section, a deformable or resilient O-ring 33a can be mounted therein for pre* venting fluid leakage while still permitting the journal to slip for rotation within the transverse manifold aperture 45. The hollow bore 34 extends completely through the boss 30 and end plate 25 in coaxial alignment with louver 14 and is operable to provide a fluid communication path between the manifolds main passageway 46 and the louvers passageway 21.

Lower end cap 35 is substantially identical to the upper end cap 25 except for the dimensions of boss 36. Here the boss projects downward from the body of the end cap and has a hollow passageway (not shown) extending therethrough. For reasons to be explained shortly, the lower boss 36 is shorter than the upper boss 30. Shank 37 may be of any cross-sectional shape such as cylindrical and can be relatively short as compared to the upper shank 31. Lower journal 38 is also shorter than upper journal 32. Both upper and lower journals are however similar in that they have a double taper which has its greatest diameter in the central body portion. An O-ring groove is also formed in this largest diameter section and a resilient seal 39 mounted therein to provide a fluid tight seal as will be explained shortly.

Before explaining how the louvers are pivotally mounted between the upper and lower manifolds 12 and 13, it will be necessary to describe the manifolds. Referring to the upper manifold 12, which is substantially identical to the lower manifold 13, there is included a body portion having a main passageway 46 extending through its entire length. Normally, manifolds of this type can be manufactured by an extruding process and can be formed from aluminum or other easily worked metals. A plurality of spaced apart transverse apertures such as 45 are thereafter formed through the lower wall of the manifold body and provide a bearing for the upper journals 32. Since the lower transverse passageways 47 are formed in substantially the same manner as the upper transverse apertures there is no need to explain them in detail.

When installing the manifolds 12 and 13, clips, bolts, clamps or other fasteners can be used in attaching them to the room surface or window frame. Ideally, both manifolds should be mounted parallel to and in vertical registry with one another. In addition, the transverse holes should ideally be placed in vertical registry with one another so that they are effectively in coaxial alignment. These relationships are not however critical with the improved invention.

After both manifolds are installed, louvers 14 are installed in the following manner. A cylindrical washer 41 made of vinyl or other soft deformable resilient material is placed around boss 30. Thereafter, upper journal 32 is slidably inserted into transverse manifold aperture 45 at an angle and urged upwards. During this time, vinyl washer 41 drops down around shank 31. With upper journal 32 inserted as far as possible into transverse aperture 45, a second vinyl washer 42 and metal washer 43 is placed around the lower boss. Then the entire louver assembly and lower journal 38 are swung into coaxial alignment over the lower transverse passageway 47. Once journal 38 is in alignment, louver 14 is lowered thereby inserting lower journal 38 in transverse passageway 47. As a result, upper journal 32 is partially withdrawn from the upper transverse passageway 45. Once the vinyl washer and metal washer are sandwiched against the upper surface of lower manifold 13, they act as a spacer to prevent axial motion in a downward direction. In addition, they act as an additional seal and as a bearing for the louver.

In order to prevent upward axial movement, a two-part spacer in the form of a lever arm 50 is clamped around the hexagonal shank 31. Before clamping lever arm 50 to shank 31, vinyl washer 41 is raised to the position shown. Then the relatively thick lever arm hub 51 having the half hexagon bore 52 is placed on shank 31. Thereafter, the second lever arm hub 53 is placed around the still exposed periphery of the hexagonal shank 31. A pair of machine screws or bolts 54 are then threaded through the two hub halves to secure the lever 50 to shank 31. With lever 50 in this position, the hub portions 51 and 53 and the vinyl washer 41 act as a spacer which prevents upward axial louver motion. In this position, the vinyl washers also act as a seal to prevent fluid leakage.

The louvers can be removed from the manifolds by just reversing the above process. This feature of being able to remove and install the louvers individually greatly reduces the maintenance and installation costs while at the same time providing greater operational flexibility. The upper and lower manifolds can be permanently installed and the plumbing provided during the initial construction or building stage. Then when the final decoration and color scheme is chosen for the room, louvers having the proper color pattern are selected and installed. If the color scheme is changed, the louvers can be removed and replaced without removing the mani folds. In addition, damaged manifolds can be replaced individually.

Referring now to the rotational operation of the screen, the lever arms 55 and 56 are pivotally connected at one end to control linkage 57 and 58, respectively. This pivot connection can be accomplished by pivot pins 59 and 60 which extend through an aperture in the control arms. The ends of control linkage 57 and 58 are connected to a rocker arm 65 by pivot pins 66 and 67 extending through apertures in this rocker arm and the end of the linkage. Thus, when the rocker arm is pivoted about its drive shaft 68 by any conventional prime mover, it operates to simultaneously rotate each louver in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

Although FIGURE 5 shows a double lever arm for each of the louvers, it is fully possible to use a single lever arm arrangement with a single control linkage and also to extend the lever arms at angle other than a right angle to the louvers.

The double taper journals 32 and 38 permit the louvers to rotate when the upper and lower transverse passageways are out of line with one another. Substantially all of the bearing forces are exerted at the enlarged radius portion which carries the sealing O-ring. Thus, slight planar tipping of this O-ring within the cylindrical transverse passageways can occur without breaking the seal or causing a binding of the journal and transverse passage .Zlthough one embodiment of this invention has been ilustrated and described, it should be noted that changes can be made in the materials, shapes and arrangements of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed:

1. An improved heat control screen comprising a plurality of hollow heat transfer louvers, hollow pivot means secured to each end of individual ones of said hollow louvers being operable to provide a path for fluid communication with the hollow portion of said louver; an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold each having a plurality of spaced apart transverse aperture means adapted to receive the pivot means for supporting sa1d louvers in evenly spaced relationship, said pivot means and aperture means being operable to pivot sa1d louvers about spaced apart axes; resilient spacer means connected around each said pivot means and hearing against said manifolds for supporting said louver s against substantial axial movement relative to said man fold; one of said spacer means associated with each individual louver being removably connected so that removal of said removably connected spacer means permits axial movement of said louver, one of said pivot means being operable to be slidably withdrawn from the associated manifold aperture and said other pivot means having a portion of greater diameter for bearing contact with sa1d aperture and a portion of lesser diameter intermediate the louver and the portion of greater diameter to permit swinging of to the louver out of axial alignment with the manifold apertures for complete axial withdrawal of the other said pivot means.

2. The heat control screen of claim 1 in which sa1d pivot means includes a shank portion, and the said removable spacer means including first and second halves having a bore divided at the separation between halves, the bore being contoured to fasten around the shank portion.

3. The heat control screen of claim 2 including spacer fastening means connected to secure the spacer in relatively nonrotatable relationship with said shank portion, and lever arm extending from said spacer for exerting torque force about the louver axis.

4. An improved heat control screen including: a plurality of heat transfer louvers; upper and lower journal means connected to the ends of each said louver, each said journal means having an outer surface with one portion therea'long being of greater diameter than the rest; upper and lower manifolds each having a plurality of spaced apart transverse apertures receiving said journals whereby said louvers are operable to rotate about substantially parallel axes; said manifolds being spaced apart by an amount greater than the length of said louvers to afford axial movement of said louvers with in said apertures, one of said journal means being foreshortened to clear the aperture in which it is received upon axial movement of said louver toward the other said aperture; and spacer means connected to secure said louvers against substantial axial movement.

5. The improved heat control screen of claim 4 in which said louvers are hollow, and in which said journal means includes a bore communicating the hollow louvers with said manifolds to establish a path for transferring heat transfer fluid from one manifold to the other through the hollow louvers.

6. The improved heat control screen of claim 5 in which the surface of said journal is beveled outward to the enlarged diameter section, and includes an O-ring groove formed about the enlarged diameter section; and resilient sealing means mounted in said O-ring groove for sealing against the surface of the aperture and permitting rotation of said journals therewithin.

7. The improved heat screen of claim 5 in which at least one of said journals secured to each individual louver is formed with a shank portion; and including lever means having a shank embracing portion embracing with one open side; fastener means connecting the lever arm in embracing relation to said shank portion in relatively nonrotatable relationship, said lever means being operable to secure said louvers against axial movement when connected and permit axial movement of said louver when removed, whereby one of said journals is operable to be withdrawn from the manifold aperture for complete removal of said louver.

8. The improved heat control screen of claim 7 in which said spacer means includes a cylindrical deformable spacer bearing washer connected to surround a portion of said journal means shank portion to seal the spacer between the ends of said louvers and said manifolds against fluid leakage.

9. The improved heat screen of claim 1 including a groove formed along each logitudinal edge of said louver for receiving the edges of a heat emissive covering whereby continunity of surface is maintained.

10. The heat control screen of claim 4 including grooves formed along the longitudinal edges of each said louver for receiving the edges of a heat emissive covering whereby the surface of said louver is maintained in a substantially continuous contour.

11. The improved heat control screen of claim 4 in which said spacer means includes a cylindrical deformable spacer bearing washer connected to surround a portion of said journal means to seal the space between the ends of said louvers and said manifolds against fluid leakage.

12. A heat control screen for placement in a wall opening comprising first and second manifold means mounted on opposite sides of said opening; said manifolds having walls confronting one another in spaced apart relation across said opening; at least one aperture in each said manifold wall, said apertures being in approximate alignment with one another across said opening; an elongate hollow louver having a length less than the space between said confonting walls; said louver having pivot means extending longitudinally from each end thereof received in said manifold apertures for affording pivotal movement of said louver relative said manifolds; one of said pivot means being relatively shorter and the other said pivot means being relatively longer than the difference between the length of said louver and the space between said confronting manifold walls to permit insertion of the relatively longer pivot means into one said aperture, swinging movement of the relative shorter pivot means into alignment with the other said aperture and axial movement of the louver to engage the relatively short pivot means in said other aperture, resilient means for biasing said louver toward last said aperture, each said pivot means being formed to define passageways communicating the hollow interior of said louver to said manifolds.

13. A heat control screen according to claim 12 wherein each said pivot means comprises a journal having a relatively large diameter portion thereon defining a groove 8 1 therearound and a resilient O-ring in said groove for pivotally sealing said pivot means relative to said hole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,898 1/1918 Layman 165-86 1,375,198 4/1921 Ziegler "165-98 2,310,086 2/1943 Howard 165-86 2,499,692 3/1950 Spratt 98 88 10 3,048,375 8/1962 Walker 16586X JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED HEAT CONTROL SCREEN COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW HEAT TRANSFER LOUVERS, HOLLOW PIVOT MEANS SECURED TO EACH END OF INDIVIDUAL ONES OF SAID HOLLOW LOUVERS BEING OPERABLE TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID LOUVER; AN INLET MANIFOLD AND AN OUTLET MANIFOLD EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART TRANSVERSE APERTURE MEANS ADATPED TO RECEIVE THE PIVOT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID LOUVERS IN EVENLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP, SAID PIVOT MEANS AND APERTURE MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO PIVOT SAID LOUVERS ABOUT SPACED APART AXES; RESILIENT SPACER MEANS CONNECTED AROUND EACH SAID PIVOT MEANS AND BEARING AGAINST SAID MANIFOLDS FOR SUPPORTING SAID LOUVERS AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID MANIFOLD; ONE OF SAID SPACER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL LOUVER BEING REMOVABLY CONNECTED SO THAT REMOVAL OF SAID REMOVABLY CONNECTED SPACER MEANS PERMITS AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOUVER, ONE OF SAID PIVOT MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO BE SLIDABLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE ASSOCIATED MANIFOLD APERTURE AND SASID OTHER PIVOT MEANS HAVING A PORTION OF GREATER DIAMETER FOR BEARING CONTACT WITH SAID APERTURE AND A PORTION OF LESSER DIAMETER INTERMEDIATE THE LOUVER AND THE PORTION OF GREATER DIAMETER TO PERMIT SWINGING OF TO THE LOUVER OUT OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE MANIFOLD APERTURES FOR COMPLETE AXIAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE OTHER SAID PIVOT MEANS. 